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Are the majority of web design galleries rubbish?

I think they are.

...and I have to honestly say, that the majority web design galleries don't have a clue about what they are showcasing.

Most of these galleries aren't even run by designers: they are run by people who wish to make a profit via the ads that they run, and are simply posting "pretty" sites that are generally poor examples of what good design is about (e.g. all shine, no substance).

Some may say that if I don't like them, I shouldn't visit them, but my peeve here is: People who are new to web design, or are looking for designers, will use these galleries as some sort of basis for their decisions - it would be the equivalent of buying a car based on a whim, or some uninformed person's recommendation.

Thoughts?

(The irony of this post is that our very work has been featured on these same web design galleries on numerous occasions... but when I skim through the rest of the sites showcased, I can't help but cringe.)

I could refer you to Sturgeon's Law, but there are design galleries out there that actually put together well-considered displays of work. Smashing Magazine comes to mind off the bat. There are others.

But there are design galleries out there that actually put together well-considered displays of work. Smashing Magazine comes to mind off the bat. There are others.

I agree with you that Smashing Mag does put together some great lists from time to time, but they don't fall under the web design gallery category IMO.

Which is, possibly, why they don't show much "crap" - they weed it out.

Interesting that you would mention Sturgeon's law - although I'm not so sure if that would apply. Sturgeon's law always (at least to me) felt as if it was meant for those on the outside looking in, rather than those on the inside looking out.

I learned about Sturgeon's Law during my days as a science fiction fan (when the two biggest arguments were "the abbreviation 'sci-fi' is horrendous" and "which is worse, Trek or Star Wars?"). That version was, "90&#37; of SF is crap." The corollary was, "90% of everything is crap." I think that applies to design galleries as well as, well, everything else.